Tool box



L. F. JAEGER July 5, 1966 TOOL BOX Filed June 10, 1964 J Z E- Z mar/s,

United States Patent 3,259,230 TOOL BOX Louis F. Jaeger, 3215 Garden, Royal Oak, Mich. Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,112 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-16) This invention relates to tool boxes, and more particularly to containers for tools in which the tools may be displayed so as to be accessible to a worker on the job.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved tool box which will support a large variety of tools in such manner that they are protected against weather and pilferage, but which may be quickly adjusted so that the tools are easily accessible to a worker on the job without the necessity of handling the tools for this purose. p It is a further object to provide an improved tool box of this character which is of rugged yet economical construction, and which may be easily handled during use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, parts broken away, showing the tool box in its closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the tool box;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of FIGURE 1 but showing one panel in the :open position and the other in the closed position; and

FIGURE 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view in elevation taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 and showing the hinge construction.

Briefly, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a housing having a floor, vertical end walls, and side walls in the form of removable panels which are inclined toward each other. The floor has a portion immediately above it for holding a number of tools in horizontal position, and a shelf may extend between the vertical end walls for supporting another group of tools in horizontal position. The side panels have hinge pins at their lower edges which are releasably retainable by upwardly open hinge brackets secured to the lower end of the housing, so that the panels may either be swung about their lower edges or removed completely from the housing. One side of each panel has a rack for retaining a row of tools in spaced relation extending parallel to the panel, and the upper end of each panel is apertured to receive a turn type of latch. In this manner, each panel may be mounted in either of two reversed positions, one position being that in which the rack faces the housing interior and the other in which the rack faces outwardly. With the rack facing inwardly, the tools carried by the rack are within the housing and the panel may be locked in this position by a lock attached to the latch. By unlatching the upper end of the panel, removing its hinge pins from the lower brackets, re-

versing the panel so that the rack faces outwardly, and re-- placing the hinge pins and latch, the tools on the rack may be placed on display so that individual tools may be removed by the worker. If it is desired to gain access to the tools resting on the floor or shelf of the housing, either panel may be swung outwardly about its lower pivoted ed e.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the tool box comprises a housing generally indicated at 11, this housing being formed of sheet metal or any other appropriate material. Housing 11 has a flat floor '12 and four vertical walls extending upwardly from the floor to form a shallow lower tool-retaining section. The side walls of this shallow section are indicated at 13 and the end walls at 14. Extending upwardly from Walls 14 are a pair of end 3,259,230 Patented July 5, 1966 ice walls 15 which are much higher than walls 14 and have side edges 16 which are tapered toward each other, as seen in FIGURE 3. A top 17 is provided for housing 11, this top extending between the narrow upper edges of walls 15. Flanges 18 and 19 extend inwardly from walls 15 and top 17 respectively as seen in FIGURE 1.

A shelf 21 extends between intermediate portions of walls 15, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 3. This shelf may be of channel shape and is adapted to retain a number of other tools in horizontal position.

A pair of side panels 22 are provided, these panels being adapted to overlap flanges 18 and 19 as seen in FIGURE 1. Each panel 22 comprises a generally rectangular member having a hinge pin in the form of a rod secured along the lower edge thereof and extending outwardly therefrom at both ends as indicated at 24. The ends 24 of rod 23 are adapted to be received by the upper portions 25 of a pair of brackets 26 which are secured to the lower edges of each side of housing 11 at the corners thereof. Brackets 26 are bent inwardly under floor 12 as indicated at 27 to form feet for the housing. Notches 28 are provided in the lower corner of each panel 22 so that the panel may be swung between the solid line and dot-dash line positions indicated in FIGURE 3. In the solid line position, panel 22 will rest against the housing to form a closed compartment whereas in the dot-dash line position the interior of the housing will be exposed and the panel 22 will face upwardly.

The upper edge of each panel is provided with a flange 2 9 which overlaps top 17 when the panel is in one position as indicated by the left hand panel in FIGURE 3, but will project outwardly from the housing when the panel is in the reverse position as indicated by the right hand panel 22 in FIGURE 3. It will be understood that since portions 25 of brackets 26 open upwardly, ends 2 4 of rod 23 may be withdrawn from their normal position resting against portion 31 of bracket 26 (see FIGURE 3) so that panel 22 may be entirely removed from the housing and reversed about a vertical axis with ends 24 of rod 23 then being replaced in brackets 26.

The upper central portion of each panel 22 is provided with a vertical slot 32, and a latch 33 is rotatably mounted on each flange 19, the latch being insertable in the slot and rotatable so that it may retain the panel in position, a lock (not shown) being mountable in an aperture 34 of each latch. It will be noted that the length of each slot 32 is such that its corresponding panel may not be lifted high enough or tilted sufficiently to remove rod 23 from brackets 26 when latch 33 is in place. It will also be observed that with the latch in its vertical position, the panel may be swung outwardly enough to clear the latch and then lifted from brackets '26, reversed, replaced in the brackets and swung back so that latch 33 reenters slot 32. In other words, the latch will retain the panel in either of its reversed positions.

Each panel 22 has a tool supporting rack 35 secured along an intermediate portion thereof. Each rack 35 comprises a channel-shaped member having the web portion secured to its corresponding panel and its upper and lower flange portions provided with a series of aligned apertures 36 and '37 respectively. The apertures are adapted to support tools such as those indicated at 38 in vertically disposed and horizontally spaced relation along the rack for easy access by removal upwardly therefrom.

In use, the tool box will normally be closed, with panels 22 turned so that racks 35 face inwardly, as shown by the left hand panel 22 in FIGURE 3. When in this position, all tools, that is, those resting on floor 12, on shelf 21, and on racks 35, will be completely concealed and enclosed. It should be observed that the size of rack 35 is such that it will not interfere with shelf 21 when the racks face the interior of the housing. If desired, locks may be placed in apertures 34 of latches 33 to prevent pilferage. A handle 39 is provided on top 17 and the tool box may be carried with this handle. It will be noted that the overall configuration of the tool box makes it very adaptable for hand carrying, the main extent of the box being vertical rather than horizontal, and the tapered sides contributing to its carrying convenience.

When it is desired to use the tools, the tool box may be placed on the ground, resting on foot portions 27 of brackets 26. If it is merely desired to use tools resting on floor 12 or shelf 21, one panel 22 may be swung to the dot-dash line position of FIGURE 3 by turning latch 33 to the vertical position and swinging the panel outwardly about rod 23 supported by portions 25 and 31 of brackets 26. Since panel 22 is almost horizontal, there will be no danger of tools 38 falling from rack 35, especially since the major portions of tools 38 carried by the rack will be adjacent the tool box, as seen in dot-dash lines in FIGURE 3.

If it is desired to have ready access to the tools carried by racks 35, panels 22 may be removed from brackets 26 by swinging them outwardly from latches 33 and pulling them upwardly, rods 23 being lifted from brackets 26. Each rack may then be rotated 180 about a vertical axis and ends 24 of rod 23 reinserted behind portions 25 of brackets 26. Each panel may then be swung back until latch 33 reenters slot 32 and is rotated to a horizontal position. Each panel will then be in the position indicated by the right hand panel 22 of FIGURE 3. In this position, tools 38 will face outwardly and will be inclined upwardly so that, with the tool box resting on the ground, they will be clearly visible to the worker. Each tool may be removed by withdrawing it upwardly from rack 35 and after use may be readily replaced in the apertures provided.

If at any time it becomes necessary to gain access to tools carried by floor 12 or shelf 21, a panel 22 may again be swung outwardly about rod 23. It should be observed that when a panel 22 which is in the position of the right hand panel of FIGURE 3 is swung outwardly and downwardly, its rack 35 will come to rest on the ground before the upper portion of panel 22, but this will in no way affect the usefulness of the tool box and will in fact further insure that tools 37 will not drop out of rack 35. Ordinarily, however, it will be unnecessary to swing a panel 22 which is in the position of the right hand panel of FIGURE 3 completely to the ground, but merely swing it outwardly a sulficient distance to gain access to the interior of the box.

When the worker is finished with the tools, panels 22 may be replaced in their former position with racks 35 facing the interior of the housing, as previously.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tool box, a housing having a floor, at least one upwardly extending stationary wall, and at least one wall removably mounted on said housing and placeable in either of two reversed positions, said last-mentioned wall having a tool rack on one surface thereof, said tool rack comprising a channel shaped member having its web portion secured to said last-mentioned wall and its upper and lower flange portions provided with a series of aligned apertures for removably supporting tools, the tool rack facing the interior of the housing in one of said positions and facing outwardly in the other position.

2. In a tool box, a housing having a floor and a pair of stationary end walls extending upwardly therefrom, at least one side wall comprising a panel having a tool rack secured to one surface thereof, means for releasably hinging the lower edge of said panel to the lower portion of said housing, said releasable hinging means permitting swinging of said panel away from said housing and complete removal of said panel from said housing by upward withdrawal thereof, whereby the panel may be placed in either of two reversed positions with the tool rack facing the interior of the housing or facing outwardly, and means for releasably securing the upper portion of said panel to the upper portion of said housing.

3. In a tool box, a housing having a floor and a pair of stationary upwardly extending end walls having upwardly tapering side edges, a pair of side panels each having a tool rack secured to one surface thereof, a pair of brackets on each side of the lower portion of said housing, each bracket having an upwardly open hinge pin retaining portion, hinge pins at the lower edges of said side panels releasably retainable by said bracket portions and withdrawable upwardly therefrom, whereby said panels may be placed in either of two reversed positions against the tapered edges of said end walls with the tool rack either facing the housing interior or facing outwardly, the lower portions of said side panels being so shaped as to permit swinging of said side panels about said hinge pins away from the edges of said end walls to expose the housing interior, and means for releasably latching the upper portions of said side panels to the upper portion of said housing.

4. The combination according to claim 3, said releasable latching means comprising slots in the upper portion of said side panels and rotatable latches carried by the upper portion of said housing and insertable in said slots.

5. The combination according to claim 3, said brackets further having downwardly extending portions, and foot portions extending therefrom under the floor of said housing.

6. The combination according to claim 3, said housing being further provided with relatively short vertical walls extending upwardly from said floor, whereby tools may be retained and supported by said floor and the last-mentioned walls.

7. The combination according to claim 3, further provided with a shelf secured to and extending between intermediate portions of said end walls, said side panel tool racks being in non-interfering relation with said shelf when the tool racks face the interior of the housing.

8. The combination according to claim 3, said housing being further provided with a top extending between the upper edges of said end walls, a handle secured to said top, and flanges extending from said top and end wall edges, said side panels being engageable with said lastmentioned flanges, the upper edges of said side panels having flanges overlapping said housing top when the side panel tool racks face the housing interior.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,888 6/1904 Decker. 1,510,240 9/ 1924 Myers 206-16 1,816,598 7/1931 Martin 206-44.1l 1,984,345 12/1934 Kennedy 206-16 2,169,605 8/1939 Griese.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

W. T. DIXSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A TOOL BOX, A HOUSING HAVING A FLOOR, AT LEAST ONE UPWARDLY EXTENDING STATIONARY WALL, AND AT LEAST ONE WALL REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING AD PLACEABLE IN EITHER OF TWO REVERSED POSITIONS, SAID LAST-MENTIONED WALL HAVING A TOOL RACK ON ONE SURFACE THEREOF, SAID TOOL RACK COMPRISING A CHANNEL SHAPED MEMBER HAVING ITS WEB PORTION SECURED TO SAID LAST-MENTIONED WALL AND ITS UPPER AND LOWER FLANGE PORTIONS PROVIDED WITH A SERIES OF ALIGNED APERTURES FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING TOOLS, THE TOOL RACK FACING THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS AND FACING OUTWARDLY IN THE OTHER POSITION. 